Contact:
Biography:
Randall Wells is employed by the Chicago Zoological Society and based at Mote Marine Laboratory as the Director of the Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, “the world’s longest-running study of a dolphin population.” This study, initiated at Mote in 1970 and continued through a partnership involving Mote, CZS, and collaborators from around the world, examines the biology, behavior, ecology, health, and human impacts on dolphin populations in Florida and elsewhere, and engages in conservation research training, education, and mitigation activities.
Education:
Post-doctoral Fellowship in Biology, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution PhD in Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz
MS in Zoology, University of Florida BA in Zoology, University of South Florida
Current Publications
Griffin, M. L., Bryan, C. E., Cox, T. M., Balmer, B. C., Day, R. D., Garcia Barcia, L., Gorgone, A. M., Kiszka, J. J., Litz, J. A., Perrtree, R. M., Rowles, T. K., Schwacke, L. H., Wells, R. S., Zolman, E. (2024). Spatial Variation in Mercury Accumulation in Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops spp.) in Southeastern U.S.A.. Toxics, 12(327). https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050327
Well, R.S., Fahlman, A. (2024). Human impacts on dolphins: Physiological effects and conservation.. The Physiology of dolphins, Pgs 267-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-323-90516-9.00007-5
Vivier, F., Andres, C., Gonzalvo, J., Fertitta, K., van Aswegen, M., Foroughirad, V., Mann, J., McEntee, M., Wells, R. S., Bejder, L. (2024). Inferring dolphin population status: using unoccupied aerial systems to quantify age-structure. Animal Conservation. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12978
Conger, E., Dziobak, M., Berens McCabe, E., Curtain, T., Gaur, A., Wells, R., Weinstein, J., Hart, L. (2024). An Analysis of Suspected Microplastics in the Muscle and Gastrointestinal Tissues of Fish from Sarasota Bay, FL: Exposure and Implications for Apex Predators and Seafood Consumers. Environments, 11(185). https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11090185
Dziobak, M. K., Fahlman, A., Wells, R. S., Takeshita, R., Smith, C., Gray, A., Weinstein, J., Hart, L. B. (2024). First evidence of microplastic inhalation among free-ranging small cetaceans. PLOS ONE, 19(10). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0309377
Ault, G., Lembke, C., Stallings, C., Peebles, E., Ainsworth, C., Babcock, E., Chagaris, D., Boswell, K., Caffrey, J., Grubbs, D., Vander Zanden, H., Mansfield, K., Sloan, K. Wells, R., Walker, B., Braswell, A., Deitch, M., Graham, J., Rosenheim, B. (2024). Results and Impacts of the First Decade of the Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program. Florida RESTORE Act Centers of Excellence Program, 10.
Favilla, A. B., Adamczak, S. K., Fougeres, E. M., Brownlow, A., Davison, N. J., Mann, J., McLellan, W. A., Ann Pabst, D., ten Doeschate, M. T. I., Tift, M. S., Wells, R. S., Costa, D. P. (2024). Examining Bergmann’s rule in a cosmopolitan marine mammal, the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops spp.). Marine Mammal Science, e13130. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13130
Barratclough, A., Takeshita, R., Thomas, L., Photopoulou, T., Pirotta, E., Rosel, P. E., Wilcox Talbot, L. A., Vollmer, N. L., Wells, R., Smith, C. R., Rowles, T. K., Horvath, S., Schwacke, L. (2024). Estimating age and investigating epigenetic changes related to health across multiple bottlenose dolphin populations. Biological Conservation, 293, 110570. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2024.110570
Moore, M. J., Lanagan, T. M., Wells, R. S., Kapit, J., Barleycorn, A. A., Allen, J. B., Baird, R. W., Braun, C. D., Skomal, G. B., Thorrold, S. R. (2024). Development of single-pin, un-barbed, pole-tagging of free-swimming dolphins and sharks with satellite-linked transmitters. Animal Biotelemetry, 12(6). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40317-024-00364-3
Taylor B. L., Abel, G., Bader, D., Barlow, J., Braulik, G., Cipriano, F., Collins, T., DeMaster, D., von Fersen, L., Gomez, F., Hao, Y., Miller, P. S., Minton, G., Reeves, R. R., Rojas-Bracho, L., Secchi, E. R., Smith, C. R., Suydam, R., Wang, D., Wells, R. S., and Zerbini, A. (2023). Integrated Conservation Planning for Cetaceans. The Zoological Garden, 91, 101-112. https://doi.org/10.53188/zg0017
Ashley Barratclough, Wayne E. McFee, Megan Stolen, Aleta A. Hohn, Gretchen N. Lovewell, Forrest M. Gomez, Cynthia R. Smith, Daniel Garcia-Parraga, Randall S. Wells, Celeste Parry, Risa Daniels, Sam H. Ridgway, and Lori Schwacke (2023). How to estimate age of old bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus); by tooth or pectoral flipper?. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1135521. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1135521
Fahlman, A., Tyson Moore, R. B., Stone, R., Sweeney, J., Faulkner Trainor, R., Barleycorn, A. A., McHugh, K., Allen, J. B., Wells, R. S. (2023). Deep diving by offshore bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.). Marine Mammal Science. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13045
Duffield, Debbie; Wells, Randall (2023). Paternity patterns in a long-term resident bottlenose dolphin community. Frontiers in Marine Science, 10, 1076715. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1076715
Sayigh, L. S., El Haddad, N., Tyack, P. L., Janik, V. M., Wells, R. S., & Jensen, F. H. (2023). Bottlenose dolphin mothers modify signature whistles in the presence of their own calves. Psychological and Cognitive Sciences, 27(27). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2300262120
DiMaggio, K. M., Acevedo, M. A., McHugh, K. A., Wilkinson, K. A., Allen, J. B., Wells, R. S. (2023). The fitness consequences of human-wildlife interactions on foraging common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science, 1-17. https://doi.org/ 10.1111/mms.13042
Fhalman, A., Allen, A., Blawas, A., Sweeny, J., Stone, Rae., Faulkner Trainor, R., Jensen, F. H., McHugh, K., Allen, J. B., Barleycorn, A. A., Wells, R. S. (2023). Surface and diving metabolic rates, and dynamic aerobic dive limits (dADL) in near- and off-shore bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops spp., indicate that deep diving is energetically cheap.. Marine Mammal Science, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.13023
Schwacke, L. H., Thomas, L., Wells, R. S., Rowles, T. K., Bossart, G. D., Townsend Jr, F., Mazzoil, M., Allen, J. B., Balmer, B. C., Barleycorn, A. A., Barratclough, A., Burt, L., De Guise, S., Fauquier, D., Gomez, F. M., Kellar, N. M., Schwacke, J. H., Speakman, T. R., Stolen, E. D., Quigley, B. M., Zolman, E. S., Smith, C. R. (2023). An expert-based system to predict population survival rate from health data. Conservation biology, e14073. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14073
Lettrich, M.D., Asaro, M.J., Borggaard, D.L., Dick, D.M., Griffis, R.B., Litz, J.A., Orphanides, C.D., Palka, D.L., Soldevilla, M.S., Balmer, B., Chavez, S., Cholewiak, D., Claridge, D., Ewing, R.Y., Fazioli, K.L., Fertl, D., Fougeres, E.M., Gannon, D., Garrison, L., Gilbert, J., Gorgone, A., Hohn, A., Horstman, S., Josephson, B., Kenney, R.D., Kiszka, J.J., Maze-Foley, K., McFee, W., Mullin, K.D., Murray, K., Pendelton, D.E., Robbins, J., Roberts, J.J., Rodriguez-Ferrer, G., Ronje, E.I., Rosel, P.E., Speakman, T., Stanistreet, J.E., Stevens, T., Stolen, M., Tyson Moore, R., Vollmer, N.L., Wells, R., Whitehead, H.R., Whitt, A. (2023). Vulnerability to climate change of United States marine mammal stocks in the western North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean. PLOS ONE, 18(9), 1-37. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290643
Hart, L. B., Dziobak, M., Wells, R. S., Berens McCabe, E., Conger, E., Curtin, T., Knight, M., Weinstein, J. (2023). Plastic, It’s What’s for Dinner: A Preliminary Comparison of Ingested Particles in Bottlenose Dolphins and Their Prey. Oceans, 4, 409-422. https://doi.org/10.3390/oceans4040028
Jensen Havmand, F., Wolters, P., van Zeeland, L., Morrison, E., Ermi, G., Smith, S., Tyack, P. L., Wells, R. S., McKennoch, S., Janik, V. M., Sayigh, L. S. (2023). Automatic Deep-Learning-Based Classification of Bottlenose Dolphin Signature Whistles. The Effects of Noise on Aquatic Life, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10417-6_143-1
Cahill, B. V., Eckert, R. J., Bassos-Hull, K., Ostendorf, T. J., Voss, J. D., DeGroot, B. C., Ajemian, M. J. (2023). Diet and Feeding Ecology of the Whitespotted Eagle Ray (Aetobatus narinari) from Florida Coastal Waters Revealed via DNA Barcoding. Fishes, 8(8), 388. https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8080388
Patton, P. T., Cheeseman, T., Abe, K., Yamaguchi, T., Reade, W., Southerland, K., Howard, A., Oleson, E. M., Allen, J. B., Ashe, E., Athayde, A., Baird, R. W., Basran, C., Cabrera, E., Calambokidis, J., Cardoso, J., Carrol, E. L., Cesario, A., Cheney, B. J., Corsi, E., Currie, J., Durban, J. W., Falcone, E. A., Fearnbach, H., Flynn, K., Franklin, T., Franklin, W., Galletti Vernazzani, B., Genov, T., Hill, M., Johnston, D. R., Keene, E. L., Mahaffy, S. D., McGuire, T. L., McPherson, L., Meyer, C., Michaud, R., Miliou, A., Orbach, D. N., Pearson, H. C., Rasmussen, M. H., Rayment, W. J., Rinaldi, C., Rinaldi, R., Siciliano, S., Stack, S., Tintore, B., Torres, L. G., Towers, J. R., Trotter, C., Tyson Moore, R., Weir, C. R., Wellard, R., Wells, R., Yano, K. M., Zaescmar, J. R., Bejder, L. (2023). A deep learning approach to photo-identification demonstrates high performance on two dozen cetacean species. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 00, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.14167
Vivier, F., Wells, R. S., Hill, M. C., Yano, K. M., Bradford, A. L., Leunissen, E. M., Pacini, A., Booth, C. G., Rocho-Levine, J., Currie, J. J., Patton, P. T., Bejder, L. (2023). Quantifying the age structure of free-ranging delphinid populations: Testing the accuracy of Unoccupied Aerial System photogrammetry. Ecology and Evolution, 13. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10082
Hart, LB; Dziobak, M; Wells, RS; Ertel, B; Weinstein, J. (2022). Microplastics in gastric samples from common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) residing in Sarasota Bay FL (USA). Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 947124. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.947124/full
Longden, EG; Gillespie D; Mann, DA; McHugh, KA; Rycyk, AM; Wells, RS; Tyack, PL (2022). Comparison of the marine soundscape before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in dolphin habitat in Sarasota Bay, FL. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 152(6), 3170-3185. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0015366
Amber Lea D. Kincaid, Gretchen N. Lovewell, Jason B. Allen, Kim Bassos-Hull, Jessica L. Blackburn, Rebeccah A. Hazelkorn, and Randall S. Wells (2022). Necrocoitus in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) near Sarasota, Florida. Aquatic Mammals, 68(6), 693-702. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.48.6.2022.693
Schwacke, L. H., Marques, T. A., Thomas, L., Booth, C. G., Balmer, B. C., Barratclough, A., Colegrove, K., De Guise, S., Garrison, L. P., Gomez, F. M., Morey, J. S., Mullin, K. D., Quigley, B. M., Rosel, P. E., Rowles, T. K., Takeshita, R., Townsend, F. I., Speakman, T. R., Wells, R. S., …, & Smith, C. R. (2022). Modeling population effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on a long-lived species. Conservation Biology, e13878. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13878
Dziobak MK, Wells RS, Pisarski EC, Wirth EF, Hart LB (2022). A Correlational Analysis of Phthalate Exposure and Thyroid Hormone Levels in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay, Florida (2010–2019). Animals, 12.0(824.0). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12070824
Wells RS, Cremer MJ, Berninsone LG, Albareda D, Wilkinson KA, Stamper MA, Paitach RL, Bordino P (2022). Tagging, ranging patterns, and behavior of franciscana dolphins (Pontoporia blainvillei) off Argentina and Brazil: Considerations for conservation. Marine Mammal Science, 38.0(2.0), 571-605. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12879
Tyson Moore RB, Urian KW, Allen JB, Cush C, Parham JR, Blount D, Holmberg J, Thompson JW, Wells RS (2022). Rise of the Machines: Best Practices and Experimental Evaluation of Computer-Assisted Dorsal Fin Image Matching Systems for Bottlenose Dolphins. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.0, 849813. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.849813
Smith CR, Rowles TK, Gomez FM, Ivan?i? M, Colegrove KM, Takeshita R, Townsend FI, Zolman ES, Morey JS, Cendejas V, Meegan JM, Musser W, Speakman TR, Barratclough A, Wells RS and Schwacke LH (2022). Poor pulmonary health in Barataria Bay dolphins in the eight years following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.0, 975006. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.975006
Kucklick J, Boggs A, Huncik K, Moors A, Davis E, Ylitalo G, McConnell M, Makris C, Wells RS (2022). Temporal Trends of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Sarasota Bay Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Frontiers in Marine Science, 9.0, 763918. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.763918
Greenfield, M.R., McHugh, K.A., Wells, R.S., Rubenstein, D.I. (2021). Anthropogenic injuries disrupt social associations of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science, 37(1), 29-44. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12729
Lacy, R. C., Wells, R. S., Scott, M. D., Allen, J. B., Barleycorn, A. A., Urian, K. W., Hofmann, S. (2021). Assessing the Viability of the Sarasota Bay Community of Bottlenose Dolphins. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.788086
Wźrsig, B., Jefferson, T. A., Silber, G. S., Wells, R. S. (2021). Vaquita: Beleaguered porpoise of the Gulf of California, Mexico. Therya, 12(2.0), 187-206. https://doi.org/10.12933/therya-21-1109
Sherman, K. K., Beaulieu-McCoy, N. E., Wurster, E. L., Wells, R. S., Smith, C. R., Barleycorn, A. A., Allen, J. B., Kellar, N. M. (2021). Serum correlation, demographic differentiation, and seasonality in common bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, in Sarasota Bay, FL. Scientific Reports, 11, 8941. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-88602-z
McHugh, K. A., Barleycorn, A. A., Allen, J. B., Bassos-Hull, K., Lovewell, G., Boyd, D., Panike, A., Cush, C., Fauquier, D., Mase, B., Lacy, R. C., Greenfield, M. R., Rubenstein, D. I., Weaver, A., Stone, A., Oliver, L., Morse, K., Wells, R. S. (2021). Staying Alive: Long-Term Success of Bottlenose Dolphin Interventions in Southwest Florida. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 624729. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.624729
Fahlman, A., Moore, M. J., Wells, R. S. (2021). How do marine mammals manage and usually avoid gas emboli formation and gas embolic pathology? Critical clues from studies of wild dolphins. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 598633. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.598633
Dziobak, M. K., Wells, R. S., Pisarski, E. C., Wirth, E. F., Hart, L. B. (2021). Demographic assessment of mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and monoethyl phthalate (MEP) concentrations in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay, FL, USA. GeoHealth, 5, e2020GH000348. https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GH000348
Adamczak, S. K., Holser, R. R., Costa, D. P., Berens McCabe, E., Wells, R. S. (2021). Body composition of common bottlenose dolphins in Sarasota Bay, Florida. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.615773
Linnehan, B. K., Gomez, F. M., Huston, S. M., Hsu, A., Takeshita, R., Colegrove, K. M., et al. (2021). Cardiac assessments of bottlenose dolphins in the Northern Gulf of Mexico. PLoS ONE, 16(12.0), e0261112. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261112
Cloyed, C. S., R. M. Wilson, B. C. Balmer, A. A. Hohn, L. H. Schwacke, E. S. Zolmann, M. C. Tumlin, R. S. Wells, A. A. Barleycorn, J. B. Allen and R. H. Carmichael (2021). Specialization of a mobile, apex predator affects trophic coupling among adjacent habitats. Scientific Reports, 11, 19611. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99017-1
Takeshita, R., B. C. Balmer, F. Messina, E. S. Zolman, L. Thomas, R. S. Wells, C. R. Smith, T. K. Rowles, and L. H. Schwacke (2021). High site-fidelity in common bottlenose
dolphins despite low salinity exposure and
associated indicators of compromised health. PLoS ONE, 16(9.0), e0258031. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258031
Hazelkorn, R.A., Wells, R.S., Siders, Z.A., DeLynn, R., Lovewell, G.N. (2020). Physical maturity in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from Sarasota Bay, Florida. Marine Mammal Science, 36.0(4.0), 1309-1321. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12733
Cunha, H. A., C. P. Dias, L. C. Alvarenga, R. S. Wells, M. J. Cremer. (2020). Microscale population structure and kinship analyses suggest philopatry of both sexes in franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei).. International Whaling Commission Scientific Committee, SC/68B/SDDNA/04. https://archive.iwc.int/?r=17370
Ronje, E., Whitehead, H., Barry, K., Piwetz, S., Struve, J., Lecours, V. Garrison, L., Wells, R. S., Mullin, K. D. (2020). Abundance and Occurrence of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Three Estuaries of the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Gulf and Caribbean Research, 31.0(1.0), 18-34. https://doi.org/10.18785/gcr.3101.09
Galligan, T.M., Boggs, A.S.P., Balmer, B.C., Rowles, T., Smith, C.R., Townsend, F., Wells, R.S., Zolman, E.S., Schwacke, L.H. (2020). Blubber steroid hormone profiles as indicators of physiological state in free-ranging common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 239.0, 110583. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.110583
Robinson, K.J., Ternes, K., Hazon, N., Wells, R.S., Janik, V.M. (2020). Bottlenose dolphin calves have multi-year elevations of plasma oxytocin compared to all other age classes. General and Comparative Endocrinology, 286.0, 113323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113323
Fire, S.E., Miller, G.A., Wells, R.S. (2020). Explosive exhalations by common bottlenose dolphins during Karenia brevis red tides. Heliyon, 6.0(3.0), e03525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03525
Deming, A.C., Wingers, N.L., Moore, D.P., Rotstein, D., Wells, R.S., Ewing, R., Hodanbosi, M.R., Carmichael, R.H. (2020). Health Impacts and Recovery From Prolonged Freshwater Exposure in a Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus). Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7.0, 235. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00235
Dunn, C., Claridge, D., Herzing, D., Volker, C., Melillo-Sweeting, K., Wells, R. S., Turner, T., O'Sullivan, K. (2020). Satellite-linked telemetry study of a rehabilitated and released Atlantic spotted dolphin in the Bahamas provides insights into broader ranging patterns and conservation needs. Aquatic Mammals, 46(6.0), 633-639. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.6.2020.633
Robles-Malagamba, M.J., Walsh, M.T., Ahasan, M.S., Thompson, P., R.S., Wells, Jobin, C., Fodor, A.A., Winglee, K., Waltzek, T.B. (2020). Characterization of the bacterial microbiome among free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Heliyon, 6.0(6.0), e03944. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03944
Tyson-Moore, R.B., Douglas, D.C., Nollens, H.H., Wells, R.S. (2020). Post-release monitoring of a stranded and rehabilitated Short-finned Pilot Whale (Globicephala macrorhynchus) reveals current-assisted travel. Aquatic Mammals, 46.0(2.0), 200-214. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.2.2020.200
Wells, R. S. (2020). The Sarasota Dolphin Research Program in 2020: Celebrating 50 years of research, conservation, and education. Aquatic Mammals, 46.0(5.0), 502-503. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.46.5.2020.502
Lauderdale, L.K., Messinger, C., Wells, R.S., Mitchell, K.A., Messinger, D., Stacey, R., Miller, L.J. (2019). Advancing the use of morphometric data for estimating and managing common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) mass. Marine Mammal Science, 35(3), 727-1206. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12568
Kragh, I.M., McHugh, K., Wells, R.S., Sayigh, L.S., Janik, V.M., Tyack, P.L., Jensen, F.H. (2019). Signal-specific amplitude adjustment to noise in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Journal of Experimental Biology, 222.0(23.0), jeb216606. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.216606
Beal, A., Kiszka, J.J., Wells, R.S., Eirin-Lopez, J.M. (2019). The Bottlenose Dolphin Epigenetic Aging Tool (BEAT): A Molecular Age Estimation Tool for Small Cetaceans. Frontiers in Marine Science, 6, 561. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2019.00561
Wells, R.S. (2019). Common bottlenose dolphin foraging: Behavioral solutions that incorporate habitat features and social associates. Ethology and Behavioral Ecology of Odontocetes, 15, 331-344. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16663-2_15
Boggs, A.S.P., Ragland, J.M., Zolman, E.S., Schock, T.B., Morey, J.S. Galigan, T.M., Dalle Luche, G., Balmer, B.C., Wells, R.S., Kucklick, J.R. and Schwacke, L.H. (2019). Remote blubber sampling paired with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry for steroidal endocrinology in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 281, 164-172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.06.006
BARBARA L. TAYLOR , RANDALL S. WELLS, PAULA A. OLSON, ROBERT L. BROWNELL JR., FRANCES M. D. GULLAND, ANDREW J. READ, FRANCISCO J. VALVERDE-ESPARZA, OSCAR H. ORTIZ-GARCÍA, DIEGO RUIZ-SABIO, ARMANDO M. JARAMILLO-LEGORRETA, EDWYNA NIETO-GARCIA, GUSTAVO CARDENAS-HINOJOSA, LORENZO ROJAS-BRACHO (2019). Likely annual calving in the vaquita, Phocoena sinus: A new hope?. Marine Mammal Science, 35(4), 1603-1612. https://doi.org/10.1111/mms.12595
Hays, G.C., Bailey, H., Bograd, S.J., Bowen, W.D., Campagna, C., Carmichael, R.H., Casale, P., Chiaradia, A., Costa, D.P., Cuevas, E., Nico de Bruyn, P.J., Dias, M.P., Duarte, C.M., Dunn, D.C., Dutton, P.H., Esteban, N., Friedlaender, A., Goetz, K.T., Godley, B.J., Halpin, P.N., Hamann, M. Hammerschlag, N., Harcourt, R., Harrison, A-L., Hazen, E.L., Heupel, M.R., Hoyt, E., Humphries, N.E., Kot, C.Y., Lea, J.S.E., Marsh, H., Maxwell, S.M., McMahon, C.R., Notarbartolo di Sciara, G., Palacios, D.M., Phillips, R.A., Righton, D., Schofield, G., Seminoff, J.A., Simpfendorfer, C.A., Sims, D.W., Takahashi, A., Tetley, M.J., Thums, M., Trathan, P.N., Villegas-Amtmann, S., Wells, R.S., Whiting, S.D., Wildermann, N.E., and Sequeira, A.M.M. (2019). Translating marine animal tracking data into conservation policy and management. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 34(5), 459-473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2019.01.009
Andrews, R.D., Baird, R.W., Calambokidis, J., Goertz, C.E.C., Gulland, F.M.D., Heide-Jżrgensen, M.P., Hooker, S.K., Johnson, M., Mate, B., Mitani, Y., Nowacek, D.P., Owen, K., Quakenbush, L.T., Raverty, S., Robbins, J., Schorr, G.S., Shpak, O.V., Townsend, F.I., Uhart, M., Wells, R.S., Zerbini, A. (2019). Best practice guidelines for cetacean tagging. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 20.0, 27-66. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v20i1.237
DeGuise, S., Levin, M., Jasperse, L., Risatti, G.R., and Wells, R.S. (2019). T Helper Cell Subsets and Their Functions in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Frontiers in Immunology, 10(1578). https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.01578
Rojas-Bracho, L., Gulland, F. M. D., Smith, C. R., Taylor, B., Wells, R. S., Thomas, P. O., Bauer, B., Heide-J¿rgensen, M. P., Teilmann, J., Dietz, R., Balle, J. D., Jensen, M. V., Sinding, M. H. S., Jaramillo-Legorreta, A., Abel, G., Read, A. J., Westgate, A. J., Colegrove, K., Gomez, F., Martz, K., Rebolledo, R., Ridgway, S., Rowles, T., van Elk, C. E., Boehm, J., Cardenas-Hinojosa, G., Constandse, R., Nieto-Garcia, E., Phillips, W., Sabio, D., Sanchez, R., Sweeney, J., Townsend, F., Vivanco, J., Vivanco, J. C., Walker, S. (2019). A field effort to capture critically endangered vaquitas (Phocoena sinus) for protection from entanglement in illegal gillnets. Endangered Species Research, 38.0, 11Ð27. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00931
Barratclough, A., Wells, R.S., Schwacke, L.H., Rowles, T.K., Gomez, F.M., Fauquier, D.A., Sweeney, J.C., Townsend, F.I., Hansen, L.J., Zolman, E.S., Balmer, B.C., Smith, C.R. (2019). Health Assessments of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus): Past, Present, and Potential Conservation Applications. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 6(444), 444. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2019.00444
Sprogis, K.R., Christiansen, F., Raudino, H.C., Kobryn, H.T., Wells, R.S., Bejder, L. (2018). Sex-specific differences in the seasonal habitat use of a coastal dolphin population. Biodiversity and Conservation, 27, 3637-3656. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-1618-7
Fahlman, A., McHugh, K., Allen, J., Barleycorn, A., Allen, A., Sweeney, J., Stone, R., Trainor, R.F., Bedford, G., Moore, M.J., Jensen, F.H., Wells, R. (2018). Resting Metabolic Rate and Lung Function in Wild Offshore Common Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, Near Bermuda. Frontiers in Physiology, 9.0, 886. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00886
Pulis, E.E., Wells, R.S., Schorr, G.S., Douglas, D.C., Samuelson, M.M., Solangi, M. (2018). Movements and Dive Patterns of Pygmy Killer Whales (Feresa attenuata) Released in the Gulf of Mexico Following Rehabilitation. Aquatic Mammals, 44(5.0), 555-567. https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.44.5.2018.555
Le-Bert, C.R., Smith, C.R., Poindexter, J., Ardente, A., Meegan, J., Wells, R.S., Venn-Watson, S., Jensen, E.D., Sakhaee, K. (2018). Comparison of potential dietary and urinary risk factors for ammonium urate nephrolithiasis in two bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations. American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, 315.0(2), F231-F237. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00606.2017
Sequeira, A.M.M., Rodriguez, J.P., Eguiluz, V.M., Harcourt, R., Hindell, M., Sims, D.W., Duarte, C.M., Costa, D.P., Fernandez-Gracia, J., Ferreira, L.C., Hays, G.C., Heupel, M.R., Meekan, M.G., Aven, A., Bailleul, F., Baylis, A.M.M., Berumen, M.L., Braun, C.D., Burns, J., Caley, M.J., Campbell, R., Carmichael, R.H., Clua, E., Einoder, L.D., Friedlaender, A., Goebel, M.E., Goldsworthy, S.D., Guinet, C., Gunn, J., Hamer, D., Hammerschlag, N., Hammill, M., Huckstadt, L.A., Humphries, N.E., Lea, M.-A, Lowther, A., Mackay, A., McHuron, E., McKenzie, J., McLeay, L., McMahon, C.R., Mengersen, K., Muelbert, M.M.C., Pagano, A.M., Page, B., Queiroz, N., Robinson, P.W., Shaffer, S.A., Shivji, M., Skomal, G.B., Thorrold, S.R., Villegas-Amtmann, S., Weise, M., Wells, R., Wetherbee, B., Wiebkin, A., Wienecke, B., Thums, M. (2018). Convergence of marine megafauna movement patterns in coastal and open oceans. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115.0(12), 3072-3077. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1716137115
Balmer, J.E., Ylitalo, G.M., Rowles, T.K., Mullin, K.D., Wells, R.S., Townsend, F.I., Pearce, R.W., Bolton, J.L., Zolman, E.S., Balmer, B.C., Schwacke, L.H. (2018). Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blood and blubber of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at three northern Gulf of Mexico sites following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Science of The Total Environment, 621.0, 130-137. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.209
Desoubeaux, G., Peschke, R., Le-Bert, C., Fravel, V., Soto, J., Jensen, E.D., Flower, J.E., Wells, R., Joachim, A., Cray, C. (2018). Seroprevalence Survey for Microsporidia in Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): Example of a Quantitative Approach Based on Immunoblotting. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 54.0(4), 870-873. https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-11-287
Fahlman, A., Brodsky, M., Wells, R., McHugh, K., Allen, J., Barleycorn, A.,
Sweeney, J.C., Fauquier, D., Moore, M. (2018). Field energetics and lung
function in wild bottlenose
dolphins, Tursiops truncatus,
in Sarasota Bay Florida. Royal Society Open Science, 5.0(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.171280
Fahlman, A., Jensen, F.H., Tyack, P.L., Wells, R.S. (2018). Modeling Tissue and Blood Gas Kinetics in Coastal and Offshore Common Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Frontiers in Physiology, 9.0, 838. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.00838
Galligan, T.M., Schwacke, L.H., Houser, D.S., Wells, R.S., Rowles, T., Boggs, A.S.P. (2018). Characterization of circulating steroid hormone profiles in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). General and Comparative Endocrinology, 263.0, 80-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.04.003
O’Hara, T.M., Templeton, M., Castellini, J.M., Wells, R., Beckmen, K., Berner, J. (2018). Use of Blood-soaked Cellulose Filter Paper for Measuring Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotopes. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 54.0(2), 375-379. https://doi.org/10.7589/2017-08-202
Pirotta, E., Booth, C.G., Costa, D.P., Fleishman, E., Kraus, S.D., Lusseau, D., Moretti, D., New, L.F., Schick, R.S., Schwarz, L.K., Simmons, S.E., Thomas, L., Tyack, P.L., Weise, M.J., Wells, R.S., Harwood, J. (2018). Understanding the population consequences of disturbance. Ecology and Evolution, 8.0(19), 9934-9946. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4458
Balmer, B., McDonald, T., Hornsby, F., Allen, J., Barleycorn, A., Clarke, P., Cush, C., Honaker, A., McHugh, K., Speakman, T., Wells, R., Schwacke, L. (2018). Long-term trends in a northern Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Journal of Cetacean Research and Management, 18.0, 9-Jan. https://doi.org/10.47536/jcrm.v18i1.409
Desoubeaux, G., Le-Bert, C., Fravel, V., Clauss, T., Delaune, A.J., Soto, J., Jensen, E.D., Flower, J.E., Wells, R., Bossart, G.D., Cray, C. (2018). Evaluation of a genus-specific ELISA and a commercial Aspergillus Western blot IgG (R) immunoblot kit for the diagnosis of aspergillosis in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Medical Mycology, 56.0(7), 847-856. https://doi.org/10.1093/mmy/myx114
Cheney, B., Wells, R. S., Barton, T. R., Thompson, P. M. (2018). Laser photogrammetry reveals variation in growth and early survival in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins. Animal Conservation, 21.0(3), 252-261. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12384
Hart, L.B., Beckingham, B., Wells, R.S., Flagg, A., M., Wischusen, K., Moors, A., Wirth, E. (2018). Urinary Phthalate Metabolites in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) From Sarasota Bay, FL, USA. GeoHealth, 2.0(10), 313-326. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018GH000146
Additional Publications
For a complete list of publications, please visit www.sarasotadolphin.org. PDF reprints are available upon request.
Recent publications:
Balmer, B., McDonald, T., Hornsby, F., Adams, J., Allen, J., Barleycorn, A., Clarke, P., Cush, C., Honaker, A., McHugh, K., Speakman, T., Wells, R., Schwacke, L. (2018). Long-term trends in a northern Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) population in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. J. Cetacean Res. Manage., 18, 1-9.
Balmer, J.E., Ylitalo, G.M., Rowles, T.K., Mullin, K.D., Wells, R.S., Townsend, F.I., Pearce, R.W., Bolton, J.L., Zolman, E.S., Balmer, B.C., Schwacke, L.H. (2018). Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blood and blubber of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at three northern Gulf of Mexico sites following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Science of The Total Environment, 621, 130-137. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.209
Desoubeaux, G., Le-Bert, C., Fravel, V., Clauss, T., Delaune, A.J., Soto, J., Jensen, E.D., Flower, J.E., Wells, R., Bossart, G.D., Cray, C. (2018). Evaluation of a genus-specific ELISA and a commercial Aspergillus Western blot IgG (R) immunoblot kit for the diagnosis of aspergillosis in common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Med. Mycol., 56(7), 847-856. doi:10.1093/mmy/myx114
Desoubeaux, G., Peschke, R., Le-Bert, C., Fravel, V., Soto, J., Jensen, E.D., Flower, J.E., Wells, R., Joachim, A., Cray, C. (2018). Seroprevalence Survey for Microsporidia in Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): Example of a Quantitative Approach Based on Immunoblotting. J. Wildl. Dis., 54(4), 870-873. doi:10.7589/2017-11-287
Fahlman, A., Jensen, F.H., Tyack, P.L., Wells, R.S. (2018). Modeling Tissue and Blood Gas Kinetics in Coastal and Offshore Common Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. Front. Physiol., 9(Article 838) doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00838
Fahlman, A., McHugh, K., Allen, J., Barleycorn, A., Allen, A., Sweeney, J., Stone, R., Trainor, R.F., Bedford, G., Moore, M.J., Jensen, F.H., Wells, R. (2018). Resting Metabolic Rate and Lung Function in Wild Offshore Common Bottlenose Dolphins, Tursiops truncatus, Near Bermuda. Front. Physiol., 9, 886. doi:10.3389/fphys.2018.00886
Galligan, T.M., Schwacke, L.H., Houser, D.S., Wells, R.S., Rowles, T., Boggs, A.S.P. (2018). Characterization of circulating steroid hormone profiles in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol., 263, 80-91. doi:10.1016/j.ygcen.2018.04.003
Hart, L.B., Beckingham, B., Wells, R.S., Flagg, A., M., Wischusen, K., Moors, A., Wirth, E. (2018). Urinary Phthalate Metabolites in Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) From Sarasota Bay, FL, USA. GeoHealth, 2(10), 313-326. doi:10.1029/2018GH000146
Lauderdale, L.K., Messinger, C., Wells, R.S., Mitchell, K.A., Messinger, D., Stacey, R., Miller, L.J. (2018). Advancing the use of morphometric data for estimating and managing common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) mass. Marine Mammal Science. 00(00), 1-18. doi:10.1111/mms.12568
Le-Bert, C.R., Smith, C.R., Poindexter, J., Ardente, A., Meegan, J., Wells, R.S., Venn-Watson, S., Jensen, E.D., Sakhaee, K. (2018). Comparison of potential dietary and urinary risk factors for ammonium urate nephrolithiasis in two bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations. Am. J. Physiol.-Renal Physiol., 315(3), F231-F237. doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00606.2017
O'Hara, T.M., Templeton, M., Castellini, J.M., Wells, R., Beckmen, K., Berner, J. (2018). Use of Blood-soaked Cellulose Filter Paper for Measuring Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotopes. J. Wildl. Dis., 375-379. doi:10.7589/2017-08-202
Pirotta, E., Booth, C.G., Costa, D.P., Fleishman, E., Kraus, S.D., Lusseau, D., Moretti, D., New, L.F., Schick, R.S., Schwarz, L.K., Simmons, S.E., Thomas, L., Tyack, P.L., Weise, M.J., Wells, R.S., Harwood, J. (2018). Understanding the population consequences of disturbance. Ecol. Evol., 8(19), 9934-9946. doi:10.1002/ece3.4458
Pulis, E.E., Wells, R.S., Schorr, G.S., Douglas, D.C., Samuelson, M.M., Solangi, M. (2018). Movements and Dive Patterns of Pygmy Killer Whales (Feresa attenuata) Released in the Gulf of Mexico Following Rehabilitation. Aquat. Mamm., 44(5), 555-567. doi:10.1578/AM.44.5.2018.555
McHuron, E., McKenzie, J., McLeay, L., McMahon, C.R., Mengersen, K., Muelbert, M.M.C., Pagano, A.M., Page, B., Queiroz, N., Robinson, P.W., Shaffer, S.A., Shivji, M., Skomal, G.B., Thorrold, S.R., Villegas-Amtmann, S., Weise, M., Wells, R., Wetherbee, B., Wiebkin, A., Wienecke, B., Thums, M. (2018). Convergence of marine megafauna movement patterns in coastal and open oceans. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A., 115(12), 3072-3077. doi:10.1073/pnas.1716137115
Sprogis, K.R., Christiansen, F., Raudino, H.C., Kobryn, H.T., Wells, R.S., Bejder, L. (2018). Sex-specific differences in the seasonal habitat use of a coastal dolphin population. Biodiversity and Conservation, 27, 3637-3656. doi:10.1007/s10531-018-1618-7